TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Trip Report 11/17-12/2

Preliminary Info.
Flew Delta with tickets we purchased earlier but due to Covid restrictions were given vouchers that we used this past November.
Originally stayed at Dawn Beach in mid 80s, this resort was destroyed by an earlier hurricane and was never rebuilt. Most of the past 30+ years we stayed at Belair Beach Hotel on Little Bay, as timeshare owners. We sold our weeks right before the Pandemic.
This year we stayed at a house, "Baywatch" on Beacon Hill Road, Simpson Bay area Air B&B.

General Observations
Access road to this house is same as for Beachside Villas. Challenging, with the jet blast crazies on Maho Beach (almost no sand on beach while we were there) preparing themselves with drinks at Sunset Beach Bar and Tortuga Beach Bar and many sitting on the rocks at edge of road.
New resort, "Morgans" is high end beautiful facility that opened about a year ago just past Maho Beach. We saw very little sign of any more than very few guests. We ate at their high end restaurant, "Salt". Very pricey, food very good, service fair, they try to minimize the 15% Service charge and expect lots more.
Traffic was a major disappointment for us. Many roads in disrepair and motor bikes and motorcycles swerve in and out of traffic like dare devils.
Marigot still slow in recovery and Grand Case has abandoned businesses right next to those that were able to survive.
Restaurants
Mark's Place still a great value with great service and food and prices.
Salt, as stated, over priced and IMO will not be there next year if their business does not grow significantly. $30 for a shot of bourbon? $75 minimum for lobster?
La Rosa in Maho was expensive but all dishes made from scratch and service was great.
Three Amigos served the worst burrito I have ever tried to eat. They must do a good bar business because the food and service was not good.
Sublime in Maho also very expensive but classy with excellent food and service.
SkipJacks 5 of 6 had lobster. Some very good. Some mushy
Chesterfields Once our favorite, no more. Filet tough and stringy
Bistro Caribe Best Lobster Themador ever. Still a crowd favorite.
Avantika Very good Thai dishes. Food and Service very good.

Tom--thanks for the report. What did you think of Baywatch?

Carol
Bob is a good guy and certainly easy to work with as a renter. Personally, I think the property is great. The only limitation we found was that even though there is 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, it was better suited for 4 people and we had 6 half the time we were there. The electrical service can only support 3 of the 4 air conditioners at one time. Bob explained this when we arrived. We knew that the beach in front was rocky and that the walk to the sandy beach was only a few minutes away. We spent lots of time there and our granddaughter had a blast.
Tom

Tom--Thanks. I doubt I would have 6 people there anyway. I wouldn't be personally that bothered about the rocky beach, as I enjoy just being on the water and am more a pool person.